Meteorological officials said the country will also experience an extended summer with the hottest months of June, July and August expected to record higher than mean average temperatures.

Weather data and information suggest a long spell of south-easterly winds across the UAE.

In Saudi Arabia, a local newspaper quoted a meteorologist, warning that temperatures could this week soar to 80 degrees Celsius in the sun in desert areas.

Dr Khalid Al Jama'an said that temperatures would also soar in cities. Officials said they were monitoring the rise in temperatures and denied allegations that meteorologists were not giving the true figures in order not to disrupt regular work.

"There is nothing to hide and we announce the temperatures as they are without changing them," Hussain Al Qah'tani, the head of meteorology in Riyadh, said. "The temperatures people record in their cars are affected by various factors."

In Qatar, car experts have been publicly offering tips for safe driving in the high temperatures affecting cooling systems, tyre pressure and batteries.

Emaar Properties announced a
deal late on Saturday with Kingdom Holding Co to develop what will be
the world's tallest tower in Saudi Arabia.

Under the terms of the "strategic alliance" Emaar will oversee the
development of the Kingdom City and Kingdom Tower projects in Jeddah,
which have a total investment of 100 billion Saudi riyals ($26.7
billion), according to an emailed statement from Kingdom.

The tower will be 1 kilometer in height, surpassing the Burj Dubai
in the United Arab Emirates that's also being developed by Emaar and
currently holds the title of the world's tallest skyscraper. It is due
to open later this year.

February 02, 2009

Up to 5,000 overseas doctors are being recruited to staff dozens of new hospitals in Saudi Arabia, it was reported on Monday.The
recruitment drive will seek medical personnel from the neighbouring
Middle East countries, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh for 43 hospitals
being opened across the kingdom this year.

“There is a demand
for these health personnel in our 43 new and renovated hospitals in the
Kingdom,” said Dr Khalid Al-Mirghlani, spokesman for the Ministry of
Health, according to Saudi daily Arab News.

The ministry is
appointing a recruitment panel made up of doctors with human resource
expertise who will be tasked with employing general physicians,
consultants, specialists and surgeons, added Al Mirghlani.

The 43 hospitals will have a capacity to house 4,270 beds, ranging from 50 to 400 beds at each facility.

Academic
qualifications of the new recruits would be checked to endure they were
in line with rthe egulations and standards set by the Saudi Council for
Medical Specialists.

Prospective candidates would be asked to sit written and oral tests prior to selection.

The
new hospitals are being built in Riyadh, Asir, Jizan, Hail, Tabuk,
Al-Qassim, Al-Jouf, Al-Qurayat, Makkah, Madinah, Taif, the Eastern
Province and Qunfuda.